I am a patent attorney. Do not show it or sell it, even in "black box" form, until you have filed a patent application. My firms website optimizeip.com, explains why in its “IP Basics" section. Feel free to give me a call. Contact number is on the site. Cheers Mike

I can recall a little from our talk about IP at tech with respect to this and there was something about gazetting if you were showing something that you wanted to later patent, which they did for the grad show. I know for the guys who had the possibility of actually making something of value that they had a talk about what they could and couldnt discuss with people at the show since that also mattered despite what was shown.

That's only if it is shown at a trade show that has been gazetted in the government gazette as being a special show. Most shows are not gazetted. Even if they were, your rights in NZ might be protected, but your overseas rights would be shot to pieces. You just don't want to be in legal grey area when it comes to patents. File first, then disclose.

When creating a 3D item people often use real items or other 3D components as input - for example scan a part and create their own. Just pointing out that it is important to check to see if those input components are protected by copyright - more often than not they will be, so it could be important to check one has permission to make a reproduction of them.

I had a chat with Mike and am now aware of the reasons why NOT to place anything on YouTube before filing a patent application. The information given was tremendously helpful...once again thanks to GZ for helping me make the right decision.

freitasm: Don't do it until you have applied and granted a patent. If anyone sees it and applies first you have not much chance later to get it.

despite prior art?

Mike will tell you why.

Zeon: Grar patents. Such a fickle world.

Until you invent something that took time and cost money and someone else profit on it and you die poor.

I did invent something and have no intention of patenting it.

I spent $12,000 on a freedom to operate search which basically showed patents that infringed on patents which infringed on patents which in turn were infringing patents more than 20 years old. All for completely abstract ideas that wasn't a novelty but what people had been thinking of for years. For a cool physical gadget then perhaps. For a lot else, no thanks.

freitasm: Don't do it until you have applied and granted a patent. If anyone sees it and applies first you have not much chance later to get it.

despite prior art?

Mike will tell you why.

Zeon: Grar patents. Such a fickle world.

Until you invent something that took time and cost money and someone else profit on it and you die poor.

I did invent something and have no intention of patenting it.

I spent $12,000 on a freedom to operate search which basically showed patents that infringed on patents which infringed on patents which in turn were infringing patents more than 20 years old. All for completely abstract ideas that wasn't a novelty but what people had been thinking of for years. For a cool physical gadget then perhaps. For a lot else, no thanks.

TBH Zeon it sounds like your patent attorney didn't do a great job of explaining the system to you, because what you have said above makes no sense logically in patent terms. I would be happy to meet up with you and explain the system to you. No charge. Just for the sake of IP awareness.

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